bigbenvic

Very interesting hand thanks for posting. Took me a while to realise the position, not sure if I've seen it before and not sure if I would have noticed it at the table, ever!

I'm winning the 10 and playing small to the Jack of spades based on vacant spaces. East is likely to hold 5♥ as west has raised, and he has 2 ♣ with 6 cards left to place the queen in. West is known to hold 1♣ and likely has 3♥ so 9 unknowns. On that basis it's 9-6 or 60% in favour of the Queen being in Wests hand. The points aren't obviously all located by the bidding, after A♣ there are 14 unknown and there is no clear pointer that East requires more than half (7) of them to overcall so the queen could easily be in either hand. if East should have more than 2/3rds of the points left ie 9+ of 14 then that mitigates some of the vacant spaces data.

I play 12-14 and would get there on the first hand via 1h-2c 2nt (15-19)-3s 4s then keycard and 6s a bit unscientific but you know that opener is 4423 or 4432 and minimum as if 17+ and 4432 he'd have cued 4d (once you've discovered he has it) so he must be 15 or 16 and GS is far away. The second I'd open 1nt but nervously as AKAK is almost too good/too many controls however I think it would bid it this way INT-2s (transfer to clubs) 2nt (Hx NOT the jack, or better) - 3s (nat 5-4 slammish) 4d (sets spades and cue) 4nt 5c (3 keycards yes I play 0314!) - 6s

Surely he'd encourage though? On the hand I think it's a tough lead, I think my K♦ is likely to be a trick, there's 18-14 points approx. split between the 2 hands, so I think I'm hanging onto my king for later. I think I'm leading a trump as with 10xx the only holding I'm killing for pards is Qx. If he has Kx then Declarer has the Q, so he either has AQ or pards gets his trick regardless.

My only concern is that partner might be 3415 and slam is a possibility. Kxx, Kxxx x KJxxx isn't out of the question though it is a bit specific. We'll take a bunch of tricks defending 2 diamonds, 4 blacks, a couple of hearts, a trump and many possibilities of extra with tapping declarer giving us another 3 off is 800 and that's when slam is close, so I pass as it's more likely that we are getting at least 500 VS a 430/450 type score. And 800 is a possibility if partner has more than 1 trump!

I am absolutely not passing. Lefty is 0-7 with 4 hearts typically, he wont have a 3433 so there is an entry to hook up my king so I am getting 1 trick as a ruff, the Qs is unlikely though it may promote a trick in combo with partners hand but I just don't have enough to sit a t/o double. 4♣ and ready an apology to partner for not having a better hand!

1♠ (2♦) 3♦ (♠ raise invite or better) 3♥* 4♣* 4♦* 4♥* *all Cues 4NT (waiting bid not Blackwood) 5♣ 5♦ (cue/any more to say?) 5♥ (3rd round control) 5NT (GSF) 6NT (A or K with 4 or more) 7♠

Yes, but to the next hand ;)

I assume 2♦ is equal length, you choose. So the X of 4NT says I have a power hand I meant this to make opposite almost nothing, over 5♦ pass is the act of uncertainty. It tells him that we don't have a hand suited to playing it - a shortage in a minor, a good fit for his hand etc; it also tells him we don't have a hand suited to defending, bad fit, trump stack, slow cards in the minors ie QJT's etc. North now knows he's facing a poor flat hand and should X for blood expecting 2 clubs and at least 1 of his 3 major winners to stand up. Maybe South will be good for an extra trick for 2 or 3 off. Edit: I should say that with South hand I'd consider heavily bidding 5♠ rather than passing as I think 3-3 and K♥ fits well with his hand and looks like what he'll expect from a pass.

My mind just recoils from this bidding. 4♥ confuses me greatly. It's pre-emptive just about everywhere I play as it cuts out any Slam room E/W could use. he has a void, 5 card support and 2 side Aces, my god that's superb support! I'm starting with 3♠ splinter and going slam hunting! If I chose 4♠ as North I'd pass 5♥, with this hand, I've made them make a guess should they X, should they bid, should they try for slam in some way. They've made their guess with 5♥ so I wouldn't give them a second chance.

I would pass with North's hand X is not right and even though I'm 5/5 in the majors I'm not bidding 2♦ with that hand. I wouldn't pass with south's for penalties, I'd try to buy it in 1NT.

KQ to 9 yep, and I'll wear it, sorry pards. QT to 8 and an outside AK are you mad partner! Its a 9 count with 7 of them outside your suit so NO not a 4♥ bid. AQT to 8 and? That's only 6.5 winners what are the other cards? A ♦ card perhaps? If it's the Ace it probably doesn't meet the standard pre-empt term here as they'd have 2 aces, so KQ tight or KQx? That's an 11 HCP hand and again not a pre-empt in this seat! Or Kxx that's suck but will require the ace on lead so only half of your example. As I have the 2 black AK's its hard for him to have 8pt in this case. The only hand I'd fear (other than KQT to 9 & AQT to 8 and Kxx) is a red 2 suiter but since my diamonds are specifically J98 his second suit quality would need to me KQxx. So as not to be to much like an opening hand, he'd have KQTxxxx as well, that's a 10 count that I'd certainly consider opening 4♥ as I'm aceless. I'd still have to really think about it as it's also openable at the 1 level. It's all about position, 2nd seat isn't a seat I mess around with my 4 level major suit pre-empts. You cannot exact science everything, for slam to be right you need what 70% as a good approximate for it to be a winning action in the long run? Change my diamond holding to xxx and honestly I'd consider pass a lot more. J98 kills too many of the holdings they could have here. Just my opinion, happy to see it differ to others as everyone has their own style. But if partner and I are on the same wavelength and that's the point of partnerships and why we have so many discussions with our regular partner/s then my bid will be right about 85-90 % of the time and that's fine by me.

I understand your point however the gain/loss with having tight pre-empts at All Vul in 2nd seat is IMO sound bridge. I never played the 9pt version?? however the rule of 2 & 3 was common. I prefer to play very wide ranging pre-empts in 1 and third seats and to a lesser degree in 2nd when favourable. But the value of being wide ranging here is not worth it IMO. You have 3 ♥ available as well as a 2 level bid of some kind so 4 should be a lot more defined. You pre-empt partner 50% of the time when you are 'getting' someone, mitigating it a little here isn't a great impost.

Second set all vul pards will have 8 tricks in his hand. I have 4, 8+4 = 12 so I am bidding 6. If not a regular partner this is harder but this isn't a seat to go nuts with wild pre-empts so since he had 3 as an option and chose 4 I still lean to 6. At matchpoints 680 isn't a horrible score unless you think most are bidding slam so pass is in my thoughts but at IMPs I think that slam worth the score. Make it 1st seat or change the vulnerabilities and it would change things - of course at unfavourable I will be even more likely to bid 6 but otherwise the power of partners hand or the range they could have would likely make me more cautious.

3♥ for me too, since 3♠ is forcing so I don't fear 4♠ from him. 3nt will almost certainly get 4♠ from pards and that's awful. 4♥ my second pick but it's kind of unilateral, also it's less likely they'll try 5♦ this way, if partner supports they just might try a sacrifice which I will have the axe ready for!

Since partner doubled I probably wont lead a heart as that would be 'expected' by declarer. Then again he could be playing the old double/triple bluff game! If I'm trying to hit his void I'd lead a ♦ or a ♣. If I just think south is a nutjob I'd lead a ♥. If I want to be totally passive I'd lead a ♠. Of those options I think I like a ♣ the best, without being there or knowing any history of my partner or opponents I think that given South has either a stiff Ace of ♥ or a void tilts me slightly to find partners void as South probably has a plan (yes I'm giving them undue credit!) If south is 2 suited ♦ is unlikely to be his second solid suit as I have KJ so it could be ♣. In which case I can see a layout where partner is club void and this is the only lead to take it off, unlikely but possible. So having voted clubs I bet that it's wrong!

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Neither do I. I think on any lead it makes on repeated endplays. You need 3s 2h 2d & 2c and can afford to give up tricks. A♦ gives declarer no problems as I see it the danger is he tries a low diamond towards the KJ.

That is very cool. I would probably led the J♥ hoping for this kind of layout and a careless south ducking the first trick!

I can see it going this way - 1♥ 2♣ 2NT* 3♦ *hearts not good enough to rebid 3 *Edit: I play 2♥ as a weaker overall hand than this 3♥* 4♣ *Both bids showing 6 card suits 4♠* 4nt+ *cue for ♣, 4♦ would agree ♦, 4♥ would imply desire to stop now! +RKCB 5♥* 6c *2 without You are kind of hoping that partner isn't Axxxxx in hearts and without the trump ace but I don't have a trump ask after 4♠ Though after 4♠ I would probably sign off in 5♣ and hope partner decides he has a hand suited to slam. My auction should show a 6-4 with no interest in ♥ and better than just bidding 5♣ over 3nt, so I must have mild slam aspirations! Also he could deduce my heart void as I ran from 3nt to 5 of a minor! His holding looks better but I really don't know if I have enough to bid 6 opposite his hand, I think so but am I result orienteering??

I'm tempted to bid 2♣ partner can't think it's forcing after this auction surely. Hopefully he'll get the idea I have a stiff ♥ and not 4 cards in either pointed suit! I'd be worried that whichever pointy I choose will end with us in a 3-3 fit, both have ups and downs. diamonds could be their suit as the 1nt couldn't bid it over 1♥ spades may encourage partner to compete on. Ugly hand and ugly choice, partner clearly a strong hand and maybe he'll bid 2♥ over 2♣ and that might be our best spot.

Norths 2 bid may be short sighted but I think his 4 bid is awful. Souths hand is very good but if North has soft values for 2♠ then they are off 2 tops before they start. 4♦ should wake north into looking at his 5 controls inc 1 in every suit bar trumps and he should bid 5♠ to say Hey I've got lots of stuff but am terrified about trumps! South can smile and bid 6 with his better than average trump support!

How do you feel after bidding 4♦ they bid 5♦ and partner whacks it VS bidding 4♠ they bid 5♦ and partner whacks it? I'm happier with the second auction as I don't feel I've promised anything with 4♠ (other than I want to play there!) whereas partner might draw implications from a 4♦ bid that I have some defensive side to my hand.

I'm in the 5♣ or 1♣ camp, 4♣ gives way to much room at this vulnerability to let them get their major suit in. Make them guess at the 5 level.

I think I'm winning A, AK♣ to ditch a ♥ and then ♠ to the 10. If it forces the Ace I have the K♠ as an entry to the last 2 clubs, if it loses to the J, then when I win the return I'll play the Q♠ to force the Ace. Only 3-1 spades with the J offside and a defender ducking the ace will stop me from getting 4♠ 1♥ 4♣ and 1♦ If they do duck the Ace I am forced to try for a doubleton J♦ playing 4 rounds of diamonds ruffing the forth with the K♠.